Woman sues Frontier for alleged age discrimination

CHARLESTON - A woman is suing Frontier Communications Corporation after she claims she was discriminated against based on her age.

On June 16, 2003, Stacey S. Simmons was hired as a customer care and service representative for the defendant, according to a complaint filed Nov. 1 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Simmons claims she was demoted without good cause and without due considerations of the facts and circumstances surrounding her employment with Frontier.

On March 12, Simmons filed a complaint with the West Virginia Human Rights Commission and shortly after filing the complaint, she began to be subjected to repeated harassment and retaliatory behavior by the defendant and/or representative, employees and/or agents of the defendant, according to the suit.

Simmons claims the defendant discriminated against her because of her age and created a hostile workplace.

The defendant's actions have prevented Simmons from leading her life socially and recreationally as she had prior to the incident, according to the suit.

Simmons claims she has suffered humiliation, annoyance and inconvenience; embarrassment; fear; a diminution of her ability to enjoy life; emotional and mental distress; a financial hardship; and loss of personal dignity.

Simmons is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Erika Klie Kolenich and Lorena E. Waddell of Klie Law Offices PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib Jr.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-2052